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| "Bid Daddy" Don Garlits Welcomed into Team Magnaflow |
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| MagnaFlow Performance Exhaust is proud to announce that drag racing legend “Big Daddy” Don Garlits has joined Team MagnaFlow as the newest spokesperson for MagnaFlow’s performance exhaust products. Dubbed “King of the Dragsters,” Garlits is known not only for his pioneering spirit and ingenuity in advancing the sport, but also for his relentless passion and strong work ethic in accomplishing his goals. “Don is the kind of man who creates his own opportunities on the path to success and isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty in the process. We like his hands-on attitude and believe it appeals to all the hands-on enthusiasts out there who enjoy working on their own cars,” said MagnaFlow President, Jerry Paolone. |
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Garlits will appear in a new commercial for MagnaFlow in 2008 portraying Garlits in all his gritty hands-on glory, working on his race car and towing his own trailer with a MagnaFlow-equipped diesel truck. Additionally, Garlits will appear at trade and consumer events with MagnaFlow and be seen in their 2008 advertising campaign. Stay tuned to the MagnaFlow web site for future autograph appearance announcements.
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“Big Daddy” Don Garlits could be considered the patriarch of Top Fuel drag racing, having developed the first successful rear engine dragster and competing successfully for four decades. In 2001 NHRA voted him to the number one position on their Top 50 list for their first 50 years—1951-2001. He has broken eight speed records, held 17 World Champion titles, and has won a total of 144 national events on his way to winning eight U.S. National championships. His “Swamp Rat XXX” dragster is on exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution. |
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CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
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1967 Received the Keys to the City of Daytona Beach |
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1985 - Inducted into Motorsports Hall of Fame, Talladega, AL - Received the Sid Collins Award |
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Car Craft Magazines All-Star Team, “Top Fuel Driver of The Year”- 1969,’70,’72,’73,’75,’76,’77,’78,’86 |
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1985 - Chosen by Racers for Christ and NHRA Division 2 as “Person of the Year” |
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Car Craft Magazines “Man of the Year” - 1969, ’71, ’72, and 1973 |
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National Hot Rod Association Division 2, “Professional Category Driver of the Year” 1985 and 1986 |
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Voted into Auto Racing All-American Team by the AARWBA -1970,’71,’72,’73,’74,’75,’79,’84,’85,’87 |
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1989 - Inducted into the National Hot Rod Associations, Southeastern Hall of Fame |
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Car Craft Magazines All-Star Team, as “Chassis Builder of the Year,” (Top Fuel) 1970 and 1971 |
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1989 - Inducted into Motorsports Hall of Fame, Novi Michigan |
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Drag News Magazine voted Don as, “Man of the Year” - 1971, 1973, and 1975 |
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1997 - Inducted into International Motorsports Hall of Fame, Talladega Alabama |
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American Hot Rod Association (AHRA), “Fuel Driver of the Year” - 1971, ’72, ’73, and 1974 |
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1997 - Hot Rod Magazine Hall of Fame |
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1971 - Presidential Guest at the White House - Also received the Chris Schenkel Award |
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1999 - Voted Top Ten driver of the Century |
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1972 Popular Hot Rod Magazine declared Swamp Rat “The Dragster of the Decade,” 1960-1970. |
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1999 - California Cruising Hall of Fame, San Bernardino California |
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Founder and President of the Professional Racers Organization (PRO) - 1972, ‘73,’74,’75, and 1976 |
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2001 - Returned to the sport, drove Gary Clapshaw's T/F car to 303.37 MPH with an ET of 4.720 Seconds |
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1973 - Inducted into the Florida Pro Sports Hall of Fame - Race Drivers Hall of Fame, Ontario, CA |
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2001 - Voted the number 1 Drag Racer for the last 50 years by the NHRA |
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1974 - Honorary President of the Cragar 5 -second Club - Motorsports Hall of Fame, Ontario, CA |
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First Dragster to top 170, 180, 200, 240, 250, 260, and 270 MPH - First to top 200 in the 1/8 mile |
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1975 - Elected to the Goodyear Motorsports Advisory Board - Key to the City of Tampa |
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17 World Champion Titles, 8 U.S. National Championships, and a total of 144 National Event Wins |
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1984 - Received the Keys to the City of Las Vegas |
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Related Links -
http://www.garlits.com/
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MagnaFlow Performance Exhaust produces high quality stainless steel cat-back systems, universal mufflers, and catalytic converters at their state-of-the-art facility in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA. Known for consistently producing performance with a smooth, deep tone, MagnaFlow provides exhaust products to well-known performance tuners and auto manufacturers throughout the world. The complete MagnaFlow line of products can be viewed online at www.magnaflow.com. |
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